The courtroom was filled with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's supporters, including her husband, Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, and activist Aisha Yesufu.
Federal Government has arraigned suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cyber bullying and defamation of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge.
According to the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly transmitted false and injurious information via electronic means calculated to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.
The allegations are said to contravene Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act and punishable under the same act.
The prosecution alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan, while addressing a gathering on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi, alleged that Akpabio instructed Bello to have her eliminated in Kogi.
She allegedly repeated the narrative in a television interview, suggesting a murderous conspiracy against her life by Akpabio and Bello.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN, moved a bail application for the defendant, praying the court to admit her to bail on self-recognition.
“The suspended senator is not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses,” Otaru said.
“The offences my client is standing trial for are bailable, and the prosecution did not oppose the application.”
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, subsequently admitted the defendant to bail on self-recognition and adjourned the matter until September 22 for the trial to begin. The prosecution counsel, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, prayed the court for a date to start trial and call witnesses.
